mcgerry



June 27, 1939. J. J. MCGERRY 2,164,219

DENTAL MAS SAGE APPLIANCE Filed Aug. 50, 1957 v ATTORNEY.

Patented June 27, 1939 PATENT OFFICE DENTAL MAS SAGE APPLIANCE James J. McGerry, East Grand Rapids, Mich, assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Hygienic Arts Corporation, Muskegon, Micln, a corporation of Michigan Application August 30,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to dental instruments, and particularly those for massaging the gums to increase the circulation of blood therethrough and improve the character of the gum tissue. It

has for its objects:

First, to produce a new and improved dental instrument of the aforesaid character.

Second, to provide such an instrument which may be inexpensively and easily made.

Third, to provide such an instrument which will be most effective in cleaning the teeth and particularly the crevices between the teeth, and which will be highly eiiective in treating the gums.

Fourth, to provide such an instrument which may be easily cleaned and sterilized after use.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation will appear from the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in the claims. A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a dental instrument embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the right hand end of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the right hand end of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the cup carrying member of my device.

Figure 6 is a detail View showing the action of my device in cleaning the teeth.

Referring to the drawing, my improved instrument consists of a handle I having a grip portion la which may be formed of any of the usual materials used in toothbrush manufacture. In the preferred form of my device, a toothbrush 2 is mounted at one end of the handle and my improved cleaning and treating means 3 are mounted at the other end of the handle.

At one side of the end of the handle, I provide a recess 4. The recess 4 is tapered as at 5 to receive a plug which will be later described. A shoulder 6 is formed in the recess toserve as a positioning means.

The handle I is apertured as at 1 to provide a through passage between the recess 4 and the slide of the handle opposite the recess. Fitted within the recess is a spring metal plate 8 which is preferably formed from stainless steel or other rust resisting metal and which abuts against the shoulder B. The ends 9 of the spring metal plate are bent back from the shoulder, as shown.

1937, Serial No. 161,574

Spring tongues [0 are struck up from the spring metal member 8, and resilient cup members ll, preferably formed of a suitable soft rubber composition, are suitably mounted on the free ends of the spring tongues II]. The spring tongues l0 both have their free ends extending toward the end of the handle so that the cup members ll may be easily positioned close tothe end of the handle.

It will be noted that the cup members ll pass through the apertures 1 and are provided with considerable clearance therein, so that they may be moved to or away from the handle, and so that water may pass through the apertured handle for rinsing and cleaning.

I prefer to have the cup members II spaced relatively close together, and for the most satisfactory operation of my instrument, it is desirable to have the cup members spaced apart a distance somewhat less than the width of a tooth of a human being. By this arrangement, as will be noted from reference to Figure 6, one of the cup members is permitted to rest on the surface of a tooth while another cup member is forced into the crevices between the teeth.

The spring metal plate 8 is held in position on the shoulder 6 by a tapered plug- H which fits the taper 5 of the wall of the recess 4. The plug I2 is provided with an aperture I3 and at its edges engages the bent back ends 9 of the spring metal plate 8. This holds the plate firmly in position and provides an open space at the back thereof. The plug l2 may be cemented or otherwise secured in the recess 4 in any suitable manner.

It will be apparent that the cups H are held yieldingly in position by the spring tongues l0 and that they are free to move to or away from the handle of the device. By striking up the spring tongues ID from the metal of the spring plate 8, I provide an opening through which water may circulate. This opening communicates with the aperture 13 of the plug I2 and the aperture I of the handle, and this permits a continuous flushing out after use and permits any disinfectant used to reach all portions of the instrument.

In Figure 6 I show the action of my instrument in one of its uses. I have illustrated the teeth of a human being at M. The instrument is grasped in the hand of the user and the cups or tooth cleaning members II are pressed against the teeth. As pressure is applied, the cups ll move back into the handle through the apertured portion 1 thereof. As the individual cup bers ll produce a most-beneficial effect. It wilI fl' be noted in Figure 6 that the cup. at..the.left.

hand side of the figure has been forced back into the handle and that the spring "action on thecup at the right hand side of the: figure has .forced the cup down into the crevices between the teeth.

This would not be possible if the two cups II" were not mounted independently on resilient yielding spring mountings.

The grip portion Ia on the handle enablesthe user to handle the instrument conveniently without grasping either the massage cup. or bristle portions, thus lessening likelihoodof contamination of such portions by the hands or fingers of the user.

I am aware that details of construction may be varied, and that changes may be made in the instrument herein disclosed without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a dental instrument, the combination of a. handle having a recess on one side of its end and apertured betweenthe opposite side of said end and the bottom, of. said recess, a shoulder in said recess, a spring metal plate fitted in said recess and abutting against said shoulder and having a pair of spring tongues struck up therefrom, a resilient cup member mounted on each spring tongue and extending through the apertured portion of the handle and beyond the surface thereof, and a plug having a central aperture fitted in the recess of the handle and engaging said spring plate to hold it in position in said recess, whereby a flushing passage is provided through the handle past said cup members... I

" '2'. In a dental instrument, the combination of a handle apertured from side to side, a spring metal: plate fitted in the apertured portion of the: handle, and having a pair of spring tongues struck up therefrom, means for holding said springmetalplate in position, and a tooth cleaning member mounted on each spring tongue and extending through the apertured portion of the handle and beyond the surface thereof whereby a flushing passage is provided through the handle past said tooth cleaning members.

3. In a dental instrument, a handle, a recess in the handle adjacent an end thereof, a spring metal plate secured in the recess, spring tongues struck up from the plate and projecting toward the end. of the handle in which said recess is formed, and massage members carried by said spring tongues and projecting laterally through openings in the handle opposite the recess.

4. In a dental instrument, a handle, a lateral passage therethrough adjacent one end thereof, a massage member projecting laterally out of said passage, and a spring support for the massage member mounted in the passage but not completely closing. the same so that a flushing fluid may readily flow through the passage.

JAMES J. MCGERRY. 

